Enlightened

Chapter Nineteen: Dancing with the Devil

This chapter is dedicated to @GorrTheGodButcher You're always the first one to vote and read my chapters, so thank you for the everlasting support!

"Big brother! I only had one brother. Who are you and what do you want?" Toni said pulling her pepper spray out and standing in front of Cheryl. Sage put his hands beside his head defensively and started breathing heavier, anyone could tell he was terrified.

"I just told you, Toni I'm your big brother." When he saw that his sister was still skeptical he went into his pocket and pulled out his wallet. He opened the small leather case and took out three photos. "Please, sit down and let me explain myself."

Toni looked at Cheryl who just shrugged, so she decided to let him talk. "Fine. Sit. But make it quick, I have to go to a meeting soon," The Sheriff said taking a seat in her office chair. Cheryl stood beside her with one hand on her shoulder, rubbing it lightly for silent support. Sage set the three photos on the table and turned the first one to face Toni.

"This was the first day you came home from the hospital. I took this a couple hours after you got home. I was six years old and had just gotten my first real camera from mom and dad. I took pictures of anything I loved. I loved you the most and the number of pictures I took of you for two years, I don't even think I could count that high yet. I couldn't wait to spend my life with my little Tiny Toni," He said chuckling at the memory. There was sorrow in his laugh though as if it were a plan that hadn't been fulfilled. Toni gaped at the photo of her young self and then looked back up at Sage, who was showing her the second photo.

"This was your second birthday, a couple months before I... left. It was one of the greatest times of my life. No drama, no worries, just celebration of your life." Cheryl almost teared up when she listened to Sage talk. She was thoroughly convinced that he was Toni's brother, although she wasn't. It sounded like Sage loved Toni almost as she did.

"Why'd you leave, Sage?" Cheryl asked with genuine curiosity. He just continued to look at the third photo and smile. After a few minutes with no reply, he placed the third photo on the table.

"This was the day I left. Well, I didn't leave so much as I was taken away. Mom and dad took us out to the zoo in Greendale, when CAS came and took me away. Apparently, they had heard that they were in a gang and were classified as "unfit guardians". They didn't get you because you were napping in the car with mom," He said looking up at his little sister. "I was in and out of foster care all over New York for ten years. When I turned eighteen I tried so hard to contact any of you guys. It wasn't until I was twenty-two that I found out that my family was dead. Since CAS didn't really know you existed, they didn't tell me anything about your well-being. I thought you were dead. Only to be passing through Greendale and hear about a Sheriff Topaz who busted some weapon dealer. I really am your brother, Toni. Please tell me you believe me." Sage reached out and took Toni's hands in his own, a pleading look in his eyes.

The Sheriff looked down at the older boy's hands and then up into his chocolate brown eyes identical to her own. A sudden memory came back to Toni. She saw him. An eight-year-old boy with long brown hair and bright eyes holding her hand as they walked through a forest. She could see her mother and father up ahead walking in a similar fashion. Young Sage giggled happily as he led a Young Toni up the hiking trail.

"I remember," Toni said quietly. She walked around the desk, wrapping her big brother in a hug. "Sage, I remember you." They broke out of the hug and a tear fell down Toni's cheek as she laughed happily and pulled her brother back into the embrace. Cheryl smiled lovingly from the desk and began to walk towards the pair of siblings as they broke their second hug.

"Who's this Toni? I saw you two holding hands earlier," He asked suggestively, raising an eyebrow at his little sister. Cheryl stuck her hand out for a shake, but he took her hand and raised it to his face, placing a soft kiss on the back of her hand while making eye contact. The redhead blushed and chuckled at him before looking at me.